Degreasing apparatus



Oct. 22, 1940. Q WOLFF '2,219,028

DEGREAS ING APPARATUS original Filed May 2,5, 193e Patented Oct. 22, 1940 DEGREASING APPABTUS Georg Woli, Munich, Bavaria, Germany, assignor to Dr. Alexander Wacker Gesellschaft fr Elektro-Chemische Industrie, G. in. b. H., Munich, Bavaria, Germany Original application May 25, 1936, Serial No.

81,709. Divided and this application October 25, 1939, Serial No. 301,131.

November 7, 1935 In Germany 1 claim. (crm- 1) This invention relates to the cleaning of various articles, and hasA to do with an apparatus for degreasing and cleaning metal articles and the like.

5 It is known, to degrease metal articles by subjecting them to the action of volatile organic solvents, particularly chlorinated hydrocarbons such as trichlorethylene, perchlorethylene, tetrachlorethylene, etc. The vapors of these chlorinated 10 hydrocarbons are heavier than air and, when mixed with air, are injurious if breathed. In the use of the degreasing solvents referred to the solvent is commonlyheated to the boiling point of water, or higher, in suitable containers or cas- 15 ings which are open at their top for insertionand u proved to be highly eiiicient and economical in industrial processes, in which the use of the apparatus is continuous or substantially so. There are many places, however, such as repair shops,

garages, etc., in which the use oi degreasing apparatus would of necessity be intermittent and the apparatus might be out of use for considerable lengths of time. In such cases there would inevitably be loss of solvent by evaporation and the use of the apparatus becomes less economical.` 85 Also, there are many articles which would be iniuriously affected by the heat of the solvent which, as above noted, is commonly heated to an appreciably high temperature in apparatuses of the type now commonly used, above referred to.

The instant invention is directed, `in general, to degreasing apparatus particularly suitable for use in repair shops, garages and other places requiring but intermittent use of the apparatus. vMore speciiically, my invention .is directed to apparatus suitable for degreasing articles without necessity of heating-the solvent to an appreciably high temperature, when the character of the articles renders thatobjectionable, the articles being then degreased by what may be 50 termed a cold treatment process, whenthat is necessary or desirable. The apparatus is ci such character' that it may be used intermittently without objectionable loss oi' solvent by evaporation, and escape of solvent. vaporsto the atmosphere is prevented. Further objects and advan` tages of my invention will appear from the detail description.

This application is a division of my copending application for Degreasing apparatus, Serial No. 81,709, led May 25, 1936. v

'The single ligure of the drawing is a transverse vertical sectional view through a degreasing apparatus embodying being shown in elevation. ,l

The apparatus may be housed'in .a suitable building B. It comprises an open top casiilg 8 including a main portion 8a and a supplemental portion 8b. Portion 8b is separated from portion 8a by a partition I0 defining with portion 8b a drying compartment 3a. Spaced bars 6 are mounted in compartment 3a for supporting a basket 5b within which the articles being treated are placed, this basket being provided with an 'elongated handle 5c of linverted U-shape.

Main portion 8a of E@casing 8 is divided by a partition 9 into two compartments II and I2. Each of these latter compartments is adapted for reception oi. a suitable quantity of a volatile solvent s, the normallevel of which is approximately 'that shown. A centrifugal blower or suction ian Il, of known type, driven by an electric motor Ila, has its intake `connected to drying compartment 3a, beneath the bars 6, by means of a conduit I3.- The discharge of ian I4 is connected, by a conduit I5, to any suitable point of dis'- charge, such'as the sewer or suitable recovery y invention, certain parts l apparatus for recovering the solvent vapors dis- I charged through conduit I5. In the use of the apparatus, the articles ar first subjected to the action of'the solvent in compartment Il, in which they are cleaned, and are next subjected to the action of the solvent in compartment I2, for rinsing purposes, after which basket 5b is removed from the latter compartment Iand placed upon bars 6 within compartment 3a, through which latter compartment air is induced downward in considerable volume and under considerable velocity, by the fan I4, so as to dry the articles quickly. It will be noted that the upper edge of partition I0.is spaced a considerable distance below the top of casing 8, somewhat greater than the height of basket 5b, and that the upper edge of partition-8 is spaced a considerable distance below the upper edge of partition I0. In the use of this apparatus for cleaning by the cold process, above referred to, solvent vapors rising to the upper edge oi partition I 0 overflow this partition into the drying compartment 3a, in whichcompartment these vapors tendto flow downward by gravity thus assisting induction of air downward .throughcompartment 3a. Further, the suction fan Il creates a strong down draft through compartment 3a with the result that the air column overlying and opening into compartments Il, I2 and 3a is caused to flow above compartments II and I2 ltoward compartment 3a and downward in the latter compartment, this ow of air supplementing the main ilow directly downward-into compartment 3a. 'Ihis assures that any solvent vapors rising from compartments II and I2 above the upper edge of partition III will be drawnlnto the drying compartment 3a, thus effectively eliminating possibility of escape of such vapors upward to atmosphere. The distance of the upper edge ofpartition I0 below the top of casing 8 is such that basket 5b may be moved from comv`partment I2 into compartment 3a. without being raised above the top of the casing, thus elirninating possibility of the escape to atmosphere of solvent vapors in objectionable quantity incident lto changing the position of the basket.

Although the new process described may before V v all be of a great importance for the use of cold solvents, it yet will be practicable also with hot solvents. In the latter case, however, the apparatus wherein the process is performed, will suitably be provided with cooling devices already known, in order to make condense on them the hot solvent vapours.

When the apparatus is not in use, casing l may be closed air-tight atits top by means of a suitable cover, thus preventing downow of air through compartment 3a. so that the loss of solvent by evaporation is reduced to an inconslderable amount. Accordingly, this apparatus is well suited for use in repair shops. garages and other places in which, under normal conditions, the apparatus would be used but intermittently.

I claim:

Infa degreasing and drying apparatus of the character described, a casing open at. its top comprising a main portion and a supplemental portion, a partition between said main portion and said supplemental portion forming with the latter a drying compartment, the upper edge of said partition being below the top ot said casing, articlesupporting means within said compartment, a partition extending from the bottom of said` main portion separating the latter .into two compartments for containing a volatile degreasing solvent the vapors of which are heavier than air, the upper edge o! said second partition being below the upper edge of said rst partition, and suction means having its intake connected to said drying compartment below said-supporting means effective for inducing air and solvent vapors downward through said drying compartment inthe operation of the apparatus.

GEORG WOLFF. 

